NU coach Brown not backing down

Phil Anderson

Friday

Feb 14, 2014 at 11:06 AM

In the same week a University of Missouri football standout came out as being gay, a University of Nebraska assistant football coach who came under fire in 2012 for his public views opposing homosexuality will speak Saturday night at a gathering of Cornhusker fans in Topeka.

Ron Brown, running backs coach for the Cornhuskers, will speak to the Northeast Kansans for Nebraska group at 6:30 p.m. at Crestview Shelter House, 4901 S.W. Shunga Drive.

Brown served as an assistant coach at Nebraska from 1987 to 2003 under head coaches Tom Osborne and Frank Solich. He returned to the Cornhuskers’ staff in 2008 under head coach Bo Pelini.

In April 2012, Brown made national headlines when he testified against an anti-discrimination ordinance protecting gays, lesbians and transgender people in Omaha, Neb.

Brown, who said he was expressing his biblically based views, didn’t receive the backing of University of Nebraska Chancellor Harvey Perlman, who was quoted as saying he was "personally offended" by Brown’s stance.

Brown remained steadfast in his views and said he wouldn’t back down.

"To be fired for my faith would be a greater honor than to be fired because we didn’t win enough games," Brown said in an interview with The Associated Press in April 2012. "I haven’t lost any sleep over it. I realize at some point, we live in a politically correct enough culture where that very well could happen."

In a telephone interview Wednesday from Lincoln, Neb., Brown said he would discuss football and faith when he comes to Topeka on Saturday night — no different than what he does in any of his appearances.

"I will be talking about football," said Brown, a standout defensive back for Brown University from 1975 to 1978. "There are going to be a lot of alums who are going to be there, and they are very interested in the football program.

"But I don’t go anywhere without talking about my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. I feel like God has made each of us in a certain way, with certain gifts so we can honor him."

Brown said he uses coaching "to glorify the Lord," just as people in any other profession or line of work can use their vocations to honor God.

He said his message isn’t always received warmly, and that the response "just depends on the kind of audience I have."

Brown said there are "people out there who don’t like it" when he speaks in uncompromising terms about his faith and about biblical standards as they apply to such issues as homosexuality or the legalization of drugs.

"We’re in a day and age when we’re being told to separate our faith from our jobs," Brown said. "I don’t agree with that."

Brown, 57, a native of New York City, said he wasn’t afraid of criticism that could be leveled against him for calling homosexuality a sin, saying he ultimately answers to God and not to man.

He said while he can accept athletes like Michael Sam, the Missouri player who came out as being gay this week, and Jason Collins, the ex-NBA player who announced he was gay several months ago, he can’t celebrate homosexuality, just as he couldn’t lying, stealing, cheating or heterosexual sex outside of marriage — all of which the Bible calls sin.

He said he believes many more people agree with him than may want to admit it publicly, for fear of being dressed down and criticized by those holding opposing views.

Brown, a married father of two daughters, said he believes he has God’s approval in what he is saying, and that he does so as a sinner who has experienced love and forgiveness through Christ.

While not a pastor of a church, Brown said he is a minister of the Gospel — just as any Christian should be — and as such is willing to "put to death everything the world considers important" and endure "ridicule and criticism" that might be thrown at him.

Brown has been active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and has led a Christian ministry called FreedMen Nebraska. He also has appeared on television and radio programs on which he discusses Christian faith and character.

Tickets for Saturday night’s event, which is open to the public, are $20 for adults, $10 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for youngsters 2 and under.

For more information on the event, call Ken Softley at (785) 357-5121.

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